Protesters converge on Falcons training camp

As the Atlanta Falcons trotted on the field for the start of training camp, Michael Vick was hundreds of miles away in a Virginia courtroom. Not that he didn't have an impact.

Competing groups of protesters jawed at each other in front of the team's complex, arguing over the merits of the dogfighting case against Vick. Dozens of television trucks were parked alongside the road, as if Paris Hilton or Lindsay Lohan might be involved. A small plane flew overhead pulling a sign: "New team name: Dog Killers."

It was the sort of scene that owner Arthur Blank hoped to avoid when he insisted a couple of days earlier, "This is a football team, not a circus."

While Vick was pleading innocent to federal charges that have put his football career in limbo and could send him to prison, the Falcons tried to get on with the business of preparing for the season.

Instead of having one of the league's most dynamic players at quarterback, the Falcons are forced to go with Joey Harrington, whose career has been a huge bust since he was taken third overall in the 2002 draft.

Harrington emerged from the locker room wearing No. 13 -- downright appropriate in light of what the Falcons endured over the off-season and, really, through most of their history.

This is a franchise that has never had consecutive winning seasons since joining the NFL 41 years ago. This is a franchise that had its only Super Bowl appearance (a loss, of course) tarnished by the arrest of a top defensive player the night before the title game. And now this -- ugly accusations that could scuttle the career of its most famous player.

Dozens of protesters turned out in front of the Falcons' complex on a stifling summer day, holding up signs that proclaimed "Bad Newz Vick Shames Atlanta" or played off the letters in his last name, "Vicious, Inhumane, Cruel, Kills animals." They brought along a megaphone to chant slogans such as "Vick is sick!" and "Role model to parole model!" Many passing cars honked their horns in support.

But Vick had his backers, too. Plenty who turned out to watch the first day of camp made a point to wear their No. 7 jerseys. They responded to the animal-right activists with signs of their own, including "PETA go home" -- a reference to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which has been leading the protests against Vick.

"I'm sick and tired of people rushing to judgment in this country," said Doug Weiss, who wore the quarterback's jersey and carried a sign that implored, "Let Vick Play."

No training camp for Jones: Suspended cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones was denied his request by the NFL to join the Tennessee Titans in training camp. "The request by Adam Jones to revise the terms of his suspension so that he can participate in training camp has been denied," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello wrote in an e-mail.

Jones had been preparing for camp as his agent Michael Huyghue contended that Commissioner Roger Goodell never ruled out training camp or preseason games when suspending Jones for the 2007 season for conduct detrimental to the league.

Bulger skips camp meeting: St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger, who is seeking a new contract, didn't show up Thursday for a mandatory team meeting. Coach Scott Linehan said it was an excused absence and that the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback would not be fined. He added that team officials were meeting with Bulger's representatives and was hopeful Bulger would be on the field for the first practice today.

Thurman to miss season: Odell Thurman's petition for reinstatement was denied by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who decided that the Cincinnati Bengals' middle linebacker should miss another season because of his ongoing problems. Thurman was suspended for all of last season after skipping a drug test and later being arrested for drunken driving. He asked Goodell to reinstate him for the 2007 season but was turned down.

Adams signs with Bucs: Tampa Bay's Gaines Adams became the highest pick in this year's draft to sign a contract when he agreed to a six-year deal that enabled him to report to training camp on time. The 6-foot-5, 258-pound defensive end was the fourth pick overall. Adams was a game-changing pass rusher at Clemson.

Jets' Martin retires: Curtis Martin hopes to run straight from the backfield to the front office. After retiring from the New York Jets as the No. 4 rusher in league history, the 34-year-old Martin revealed he has his sights set on becoming an NFL owner.

"Ever since you have seen me as a player, I've been looking at myself as an owner," Martin said at a news conference. "Most people see me as a low-profile player, and I've always seen myself as a high-profile owner," he said.

Reid's son pleads guilty: A son of Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid pleaded guilty to drug and traffic offenses in Norristown, Pa., and will serve at least three days in jail, while another son opted to go to trial on drug and weapons charges. Garrett Reid, 24, of Villanova, pleaded guilty to recklessly endangering another motorist, driving while under the influence, possession of drug paraphernalia and minor traffic offenses. In the same courtroom, 22-year-old Britt Reid requested a jury trial on charges stemming from a traffic dispute in which police said he brandished a handgun at another motorist. That alleged incident also occurred Jan. 30, in the Philadelphia suburb of West Conshohocken.